Yule classic a River Oaks

Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Like many other area families, Maureen Fenninger and her parents, Joseph and Kathleen, made it a holiday tradition to see the Alley Theatre’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol.”

But that tradition has evolved for the River Oaks family over the past two years. Maureen now plays Ebenezer Scrooge’s sister, Fan, in this year’s production, a role she first landed last year.

“Ever since I was 4 or 5 I always came to ‘A Christmas Carol’ to see it,” she said. “It thrilled me to see Marley’s ghost and Scrooge. I thought I’d try it myself.”

The St. Anne Catholic School seventh grader is one of 24 young cast members who join the out numbered adult cast on stage each day. The students come from all over Greater Houston and attend both public and private schools.

Many of the young cast members have returned from last year to retell Charles Dickens’ story of Scrooge and the three ghosts who visit him on Christmas Eve. The actors are divided into two groups and alternate performances, each group appearing in 24 of the 48 performances.

One returning, young cast member is 7-year-old Sydney Welling, who plays Tiny Tim. As a girl playing the role of a crippled boy, she gets to wear a wig, a leg brace and carry a crutch.

Sydney said she likes acting because it’s fun and she gets to meet new friends. Her mother, Leanne, also enjoys the experience.

“When she is up there taking a bow it makes it all worth while,” she said, referring her daughter’s busy schedule. “I cry at every production.”

Sydney is a second grader at The Fay School. Her best friend, Evan Leigh Thornton, is also a student there and plays the other Tiny Tim. Her three sisters are veteran performers in “A Christmas Carol.”

Returning for a third year is 9-year-old Ty Doran, who plays the Turkey boy and Fred’s boy. He played Tiny Tim his first year and the Turkey boy in his second.

But this year, his father, Justin, and younger sister, Caleigh, are joining him on stage as Mr. Marvel, one of the many townspeople who owe Scrooge money, and young Scrooge.

“When Ty did it I saw him, and it was really fun,” Caleigh, 7, said about why she tried out for a part this year.

Acting isn’t new to the family. Justin Doran is a full-time actor who has performed at the Alley, Ensemble Theater and Main Street Theater since moving to Houston from Los Angeles three years ago. In L.A. he performed both on stage in front of the camera.

Becoming an acting family has been good for the West University residents.

For one thing, Ty and Caleigh get to see their father more than they usually do when he is in a production.

When they have a morning performance, they get to have a special day with their dad. The two Kinkaid students get to sleep a little later than if they were going to school, and have lunch at Whataburger after the performance to talk about it. Then they go to school midday.

The Dorans, who traditionally read “A Christmas Carol” every year, think acting will also become a yearly occurrence. Justin Doran said perhaps his youngest son, Jack, 3, will join them one day.

Asked about the possibility of Ty one day playing Scrooge, Justin, referring the scene where Scrooge sees his own death, said, “If he’s old enough to be Scrooge, I’ll be that dead body that’s rolling out onto the stage.”

The family knows that they play a part in other families’ traditions.

“If you don’t do it, and the show got canceled, that’s disappointing all of those families,” Ty said about the importance of playing his role.

“A Christmas Carol” will run through Dec. 27 at the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets currently start at $42 and will start at $38 Dec. 26-27.